How to fix Basement Concrete Cracks

How to fix Basement Concrete Cracks

How to fix Basement Concrete Cracks

While concrete cracks appear to be normal because they appear everywhere, it is not recommended that you ignore them. Most homeowners find concrete cracks in their basement, either on the foundation wall or on the floor. They may also see cracks on the concrete garage floor, patio, or in-ground pool.

One of the characteristics of concrete is that it shrinks as a natural process of it curing. This shrinkage causes the concrete to develop stresses. To release the stress from shrinkage, the basement wall cracks. This is a normal condition in a concrete foundation. Shrinkage cracks are typically less than 1/16th" in width. Concrete cracks may grow to run the entire length of a concrete wall, from top to bottom. Common areas for a shrinkage concrete crack to develop are under a basement window, in the middle of a long wall or where the foundation "steps down."

Once cracks form on a concrete floor or wall, it is possible for water to leak into a basement through these cracks. There are several ways to repair a basement crack leak. The most effective way to fix a crack is to inject polyurethane foam into the basement crack.

If a homeowner does not fix their small concrete cracks, many times the foundation crack will widen over time and result in water seepage or possibly the loss of structural integrity. Water seepage leads to a wet basement.

Fortunately, there is an easy way to permanently repair foundation cracks using a low-pressure injection of an epoxy or polyurethane foam material. For the repair of concrete floor cracks, certain epoxy, polyurethane, or polyurea materials exist, suitable for such slab repairs. When you inject cracks with a resin the floor will actually attain a strength greater than most typical concrete slabs. This means that the repaired crack will actually be stronger than the surrounding area. These repair systems are usually injected into the crack after cleaning and crack chasing (routing out the crack with a saw or angle grinder), and they cure in 12 to 24 hours.

Another option to fix concrete cracks is to fill the cracks with a concrete caulk, which is usually made of a softer resin material. These products are applied to the crack or joint with a caulk gun and are available in a wide range of colors so that the resin is not an eyesore.

The application of epoxy to fix concrete cracks is usually done by a basement waterproofing contractor.

For more information on how to fix concrete cracks, visit http://www.wetbasements.com or contact G. J. MacRae Foundation Repair in Toronto, Ontario at (905) 824-2557.

POST COMMENT

How To Select The Right Lampshade For Different Rooms Should You Renegotiate Your Cellular Tower Lease? Warm Illuminating With Candles How To Make Your Squeeze Page More Successful Hookah In The National Popular How To Play Fetch With Dog...step By Step! How to Achieve the Exotic Tuning Styling Car Influence is Three Dimensional How To Teach A Dog... How To Fetch! How Can the Public Benefit from Class Action Suits? At what time Should Ovulation Happen? HD Camcorders - Best Camcorders 2010 Matt Hustons Ex Square System Cold Hard Facts About The Ex2 System